Healthy Eating in an Imperfect World

Busy Bees Can Eat Healthy, Too

Demands of work, family, and community can keep people from preparing for
healthy meals. This is true for workaholics, supermoms and dads, overachievers,
frequent travelers, and a host of other people trying to beat the clock.
Because of their lack of time, these folks often turn to quick-fix foods that
are high in fat, sugar, sodium, or calories, and low in essential
nutrients.

The solution isn't to find more time, but to work with the schedule you do
have. The minutes spent perusing fast-food or vending machine options could be
used toward time to visit the grocery store, where you can pick up prepared
salads, sandwiches, and meats, pre-washed and cut fruits and vegetables, canned
soups, low-calorie and low-fat frozen meals, yogurt, string cheese, and
cereals.

There may be a bit more effort involved in shopping at the supermarket, but
wasteful hours of worry about flab and low energy do tend to go away with
healthy eating. With well-balanced meals, we usually feel more positive about
ourselves and our surroundings.

"We continue to see a really strong link between how we eat and what we
eat, and being well," says Moores. "The better we do on our part to
choose good foods and eat healthfully, the more effect it has on helping us
stay well, feel good, and enjoy life."

Here are some more healthy tips for busy bees:

Cook a bigger batch of food on the weekends, and refrigerate or freeze for
weekday consumption.

Set an alarm for mealtimes. Even if you're buried in a project, don't skip
meals; designate a time to eat.

Try not to do anything else while eating. Mindless consumption prevents the
enjoyment of food. When that happens, people tend to eat more and eat unhealthy
alternatives.

Put fresh or dried fruit where you can see it to remind yourself of your
goal to eat healthy. Bananas, grapes, and apples make handy and nutritious
snack items.

If at a restaurant, turn down the supersize option, and choose baked and
broiled instead of fried.

Order the lunch portion at dinnertime, and hold off on fatty
condiments.